Postgame: New York

Part of Mike Petke’s postgame comments will be in Monday’s paper, but to describe him as upset at the penalty call would be quite the understatement.

The Crew took a 2-1 lead in the 74th minute when Federico Higuain converted his second penalty of the season, but it came with some controversy. The Crew’s Justin Meram was clearly pushed while inside the area, but he appeared to have already struck the ball when contact was made. His attempt went wide, but Kosuke Kimura was whistled for the foul anyway.

Here’s what Petke had to say: “I will say this, while I say that perhaps we didn’t deserve to win today I have my checkbook out and I am ready for MLS to fine me because it’s not good enough from the referees. It’s not good enough. I watched the replay of the penalty of what I already knew to be not a penalty and it backed it up. He (Justin Meram) misses the ball, the player, misses it, and then there is contact from the side. That’s a guy in my estimation who is probably getting ready for the Memorial Day weekend who wants to be a part of the show. That’s what it is to me and I could care less what the league fines me, or what they say.

He continued: “Those decisions, those types of things cost jobs. And it goes to his partners on the sidelines, who handballs, fouls happened two feet in from of them and they don’t even see it. I’m pissed off. Like I said, I’m not blaming the refs for us not winning. I don’t think we did enough to win, but we are going to have games like that and to give them that PK call, shocking.”

I caught up with Meram after the game, who said Kimura interfered with his attempt. Crew head coach Robert Warzycha said, “You’re going to have some calls go for you and go against you. I don’t question the referee’s decision.”

Added New York defender Jamison Olave: “For me it wasn’t a penalty, the player from Columbus mis-kicks the ball, he doesn’t make contact with the ball and his momentum takes him to the ground. There was a player chasing him from behind but there is nothing to be done after he mis-kicks the ball. My opinion is that is not a penalty kick.”

Referee Geoff Gamble told reporters, “I had a clear view of the play. The defender pushed the attacker in the back, which is a penal offense, which then resulted in a penalty kick.”

Federico Higuain converted the penalty in a bit of revenge after having his attempt against Luis Robles saved in Crew Stadium on May 4. This time, he skipped the stutter-step and fired straight ahead as Robles again dove to his right. The ball looked to have skimmed the left side of his jersey before finding the back of the net.

I’ve seen Higuain putting in extra work on his penalties during training, but Warzycha said the team’s upcoming U.S. Open Cup game had him making other players practice them as well.

“It’s difficult to mimic the penalties that are going to happen in games because we don’t know if it’s going to be in the first minute or in the last minute or what the score is going to be, et cetera,” the coach said. “He worked on his penalties this week. He has confidence. He took a good shot against New York and the goalkeeper saved it, but he has confidence.”

Injuries mountingDominic Oduro notched the Crew’s earliest goal of the season when he scored in the second minute, but he was removed six minutes later with what the team has called a right thigh contusion. He will have an MRI as soon as Monday, Warzycha said.

“It could be long-term or it could be shorter,” Warzycha said. “I can’t say right now.”

Oduro sported a significant ice wrap on his right leg as he watched the game.

“Right now it hurts,” he said. “It really hurts. I can barely walk, but I’ll fight through it. We’re going to get a scan to see if it’s something minor, which I hope it is. After that, hopefully I’ll be ready for next week.”

Oduro's absence meant Warzycha was without five opening-day starters. The Crew finished the match down a player after Kevan George had to leave the field with a bloody face that required stiches, and midfielder Eddie Gaven suffered a shoulder injury in the 87th minute that forced him off for a few minutes.

Look for status updates on all the walking wounded Tuesday.

ShufflingOduro was replaced by Aaron Schoenfeld, who played 54 minutes before being removed for Ben Speas.

“Especially on the road, we play to win and we’re very aggressive and we created chances,” Warzycha said. “Aaron came in and worked extremely hard, so I’m happy with the guys’ performance.”

When Speas replaced Schoenfeld, Meram moved to his former position of forward. He was lined up there when he drew the controversial penalty.

“I love playing up there,” he said. “We kind of created more when I was up there. I’m close to the goal and we got the PK. I played there my rookie year and couldn’t quite handle the physicality but this is my third year and I can play that position pretty well. I enjoyed it. If I’m called to play up there I’ll be excited, but if I have to do defensive work I’m ready for that chance as well. I think I’ve shown the coaching staff that I’m team-first and can be responsible on the field.”